Abstract
This chapter addresses the background and rationale for the use of evidence-based assessment and measurement-based care and discusses a number of issues related to identifying what constitutes evidence-based assessment and measurement-based care. These considerations are important because, before clinicians can decide on an evidence-based therapy, they must accurately identify the problems to target in treatment. Thus, the proper use of an evidence-based therapy is contingent upon a reliable and valid evidence-based assessment of the problems that are to be addressed in treatment. This chapter describes how clinicians must also utilize measurement-based care to ensure that the treatment is working as expected. Such measurement is infused into most evidence-based treatments currently, with utilization of client data before, throughout, and after treatment to provide the best care and outcomes for clients. In other words, this chapter describes how client data are to be used in selecting the appropriate treatment, to monitor treatment progress and verify that symptom reduction is taking place during treatment, and to show overall progress of treatment at the point of termination.
